"Po- police chief?" She stutters fearing the worst.

"Yes ma'am. You are the friend of Rachel and Levi Mack, correct?"

She nods forgetting she is on the phone. "Yes sir."

"I am very sorry, but Rachel collapsed in the grocery store today and she has passed away. The doctors said that she had a blood disorder in addition to the tumors. As I am sure you know Levi is serving overseas right now."

She takes a deep breath fighting back the tears. Her dear friend had been battling brain tumors for the pas six months and for reasons know one knows, Levi wasn't released to come home to be with her. She bites her lip as her mind floats to Ashley the dear little girl of Rachel and Levi's, only four months old.

"The Mack's have stated in legal documents that if anything was to happen to one or both and Ashley is not of age to be on her own and the other isn't able to care for her you are to be appointed her legal guardian. You are aware correct?" The chief's voice brings her back to the conversation at hand.

"Yes sir, I am."

"Very well. You will be put as her temporary guardian until Levi returns home. We have Ashley and the diaper bag that was with them at the store here at the station, I will take you over to their house to collect the remainder of her things so you can take her if that is possible."

"Yes sir, I can meet you at the station in fifteen minutes." Although it only took ten minutes to get to town she gave herself a little time to gather herself into working order.

Canley sighs as tears cloud her vision as the town comes into view. Her best friend was gone, but she wasn't suffering anymore. How can this be happening? And at this time in the year? I'm suppose to take care of Ashley's needs until Levi gets back. That's at least three months, unless he gets leave.

In a matter of minutes she was going to be a mother figure to a month old little girl and that scared the heck out of her. She had always imagined being married and having a support person for the three a.m. feedings, but she wasn't going to deny Ashley and have her put in a foster home. Finding herself at the police station she takes a deep breath and pushes her ford dually pickup door open.

Pushing the station door open she feels the tears pricking once again. Her eyes land on the baby car seat rocking gently at the foot of the police chief she has seen around town a couple times. As if to announce her care taker is there Ashley lets out a ear piercing scream. Chief Mitchell sighs and shakes his head.

"Would you like me to take her?" Canley forces her voice to speak.

He looks up and a small sympathetic smile slips to his features. "I can't seem to get her to calm down."

She nods and takes the child from the car seat. Cuddling the little girl to her she whispers soothing words to her. After a few seconds the screaming subsides to gentle sobs and the sweet girl's eyes flutter closed. Canley can't but smile at the little bundle lying in her arms. Amongst all the heartache Ashley is one flicker of light and hope for a bright future.

"Would you like me to put the carrier in your backseat?" Chief Mitchell asks.

She nods not trusting her voice and watches as he carries the car seat and base outside. How in the world did all of this fall in my lap? I have nothing a baby needs, no idea how everything works and am certain that it isn't healthy for a four month old to be outside as much as I am. The officer's voice pulls her from the freak session going on in her mind.

"All set."

She nods, "Thank you."

"No problem," he tells her grabbing the door for her.

After buckling the little bundle in she gets in and starts the engine. She follows the police car to the house she has visited so many times that it seems scary. Her vision once again is blurred as she remembers back just four months ago when she was driving Rachel to the hospital, as she was in labor with Ashley.

Chief Mitchell helps her get essentials to her pickup, complete with the crib from Ashley's room. He sees them off on their way before locking up the Mack house and going back to the station.

Getting home at nine p.m. Canley changes Ashley into a sleeper and lays her in the baby swing. She then hops in the shower for a super quick one before laying down in her bed with Ashley to her chest.

Canley wakes up to screaming and her dogs holing, at three a.m. "Hey Ashley, baby, calm down. I'll get you a bottle," she coos. Flipping on the lamp she stumbles into the kitchen and shakes the bottle she had made before going to bed just hours before. Once she is sure the milk is mixed she gently inserts the nipple into the waiting baby's mouth. The room is rid of the shrill noise, but the dogs still howl.

Finally five hours later all crying is lost and the sunlight has peaked up silencing the dogs. Canley sighs, she is already suppose to be up and well into her day, but with only four hours of sleep all motivation is lost. She lays back on her bed sleep instantly overcoming her. Only to be jolted awake when her phone falls onto her face. Ten a.m. a little more sleep to add onto the log. She checks her notifications to find her mom has called her five times, the police station once and her a text from one of her other good friends, Jenny.

She calls her mom back.

"Hey sweetheart! How is your morning going?"

Did she tell her? She didn't want to lie, but then again maybe she could just play dumb. "Good, it has been busy."

"Ah, well I have some exciting news! Mrs. Dallas invited us all to their place for Thanksgiving. They don't know how many of their kids are coming, but you should come. " Her mother gushes.

She face palms herself, screwed now. "Uh, yeah that sounds like fun. I'll have to see what happens between now and then."

"So we can count you in?"

How can I pass up getting to catch up with her long time friend? "Sure mom."

"Okay sweety! Talk to you later." With those joyful words the phone line clicks.

"You too mom," She mutters. Next is the police station, a call she wasn't sure she wanted to return.

Three rings and the same gruff voice answers, "Chief Mitchell, how are you Miss Spencer?"

She smiles forgetting they had caller ID. "I'm alive."

The chief chuckles. "Good, I was just calling to see if everything went okay last night and to tell you the what we got back from contacting Levi."

"If you consider six hours of sleep to the minute a good night then yes."

"I don't miss those days. Now Levi, they are short soldiers right now so as soon as they have a replacement for him he will be on his way home. That could be six days, that could be six months." His tone is steady yet she doesn't miss the sound of pure sadness.

She swallows hard. "Thank you for the information."

"Yes ma'am. I must go, but I would love to hear from you sometime."

"Will do, have a nice day."

"You too."

Once again the clicking of a dead phone line meets her ear. Now the text from Jenny.